An Eye Doctor's Warning: The One Thing You Must Avoid for Healthy Vision
The human eye, a marvel of biological engineering, ranks as the second most intricate organ in the body, trailing only the brain. With over two million components working in harmony, it’s no surprise that approximately 80% of our learning is visual.
So, what steps can we take to ensure our eyes remain in peak condition? More importantly, what should we absolutely avoid to maintain their health?
These questions were posed to Dr. Amanda Redfern, an ophthalmologist and assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University’s Casey Eye Institute, during her recent visit to the studio of the “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast hosted by Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson.
“Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes is bad. It’s real bad. Don’t do it,” Dr. Redfern emphasized, cautioning that this rule applies even to short naps. “It’s like a game of Russian roulette.”
The reason for this stark warning? The risk of developing a corneal ulcer, an infection that can occur on the part of the eye covered by a contact lens.
“It’s not going to happen every time, but when it does, it’s terrible,” she explained. “In severe cases, you could lose your eyeball.”
In less dire circumstances, a scar on the cornea could form. “If that scar is in the center of your vision, it could permanently affect your sight unless you undergo a corneal transplant,” she added.
Dr. Redfern also advised against any activities that might compromise or contaminate contact lenses, such as swimming in pools or lakes while wearing them or even showering.
“The issue with contact lenses is that they can trap bacteria between the lens and your cornea, leading to infections and all the complications we discussed,” she noted. “We generally advise against exposing your eyes to anything nonsterile.”
This caution extends to using tap water for rinsing or storing lenses.
When asked about a scenario where someone on vacation forgets their contact lens solution and must choose between sleeping with contacts or using tap water for storage, Dr. Redfern was unequivocal: “Both of those are awful options. I’d rather you throw the contacts out and just walk around a little bit blurry for the weekend.”
To promote eye health, Dr. Redfern encourages regular use of eye protection. “I always wear eye protection when doing house projects involving hammering or sawing—anything where debris could fly into my eye,” she stated. “I see so many hospital consults for eye trauma; it’s just crazy.”
If something becomes lodged in your eye, resist the urge to remove it yourself. Instead, cover your eye with a paper cup and seek medical attention immediately.
“Pulling it out in an uncontrolled manner could cause the inner contents of the eye to come out with it,” she warned.
Dr. Redfern also debunked several myths regarding activities that may harm or benefit vision—such as reading in dim light not ruining eyesight—and discussed floaters and when to consult a doctor about them.
For more insights from Dr. Redfern, check out her Instagram page.
If you have questions or need assistance with something you think you might be doing wrong, email AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com; your topic might be featured in an upcoming episode.
